‘I will not walk away,’ Obama tells Congress

WASHINGTON — Acknowledging Americans’ frustration with the slow pace of the nation’s economic recovery, President Barack Obama dedicated more than half of his first State of the Union address Wednesday night to pocketbook themes, from jobs to tax breaks to taming the national debt.

Throughout the 70-minute speech, the president strained to signal that he understands how angry, disappointed and even cynical the American people are over their economic insecurity and Washington’s failure to deliver change they can believe in.

Americans “face more than a deficit of dollars right now,” Obama said. “We face a deficit of trust, deep and corrosive doubts about how Washington works that have been growing for years.”

“I campaigned on the promise of change,” Obama said. “I know there are many Americans who aren’t sure if they still believe we can change — or that I can deliver it.”

He took responsibility for the Democrats’ failure to pass his major initiative to overhaul the nation’s health care system, but offered no road map for how to salvage the effort. “I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people. I know that with all the lobbying and horse-trading, this process left most Americans wondering what’s in it for them.”

‘As temperatures cool’

He urged critics to reconsider their position “as temperatures cool,” and vowed to keep fighting for the legislation. “I will not walk away from these Americans,” he said of the uninsured. “And neither should the people in this chamber.”

He returned repeatedly to one of the hallmarks of his 2008 presidential candidacy — the notion that he’d change the culture of Washington — in a populist-sounding bid about repairing the public trust along with the nation’s treasury.

He revived his campaign theme that Republicans and Democrats must work together for the nation’s good — as he said previous generations did for centuries, to do “what’s best for the next generation.”

That, he said, is the legacy that today’s leaders in Washington must seize: “We don’t quit. I don’t quit. Let’s seize this moment — to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.”

At the same time, he urged Democrats not to chicken out on their agenda for fear of a backlash at the polls — and hinted that they should consider hardball tactics to force bare-majority votes on big issues through Congress.

“Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve some problems, not run for the hills.”

GOP responce

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, who in November was elected his state’s first Republican governor in eight years, gave the Republican response.

He said that under Obama, “the federal government is simply trying to do too much.” He said one plan Obama detailed in his speech, a three-year freeze on non-security discretionary spending, is “a laudable step, but a small one.”

On health care Obama said, “I take my share of the blame for not explaining it more clearly to the American people. I know that with all the lobbying and horse-trading, this process left most Americans wondering what’s in it for them.”

While domestic programs dominated his delivery, the president turned briefly to foreign policy. He defended his decision to send more troops to Afghanistan even as he vowed that despite the recent spasms of violence and political unrest in Iraq, “this war is ending and all of our troops are coming home.”

On the economy, Obama said the economic stimulus passed last year helped stave off a depression and that the economy is turning around, even as jobs lag. While more than 3.5 million net jobs have been lost since Obama took office, Obama said it could have been worse. He argued that the stimulus had saved or created 2 million jobs and is on track to save or create another 1.5 million by year’s end.

Funds for small banks

The president called for using up to $30 billion from funds federal bailout funds repaid by big banks to help community banks lend money to small businesses.

He promoted other small-business tax incentives to encourage hiring.

He said he’s issuing an executive order to create a commission to recommend ways to cut the debt, after the Senate fell short of the bipartisan votes needed to do so.

As expected, he announced plans to for a three-year freeze on non-security discretionary spending.

The president reiterated but broke no new ground on his support for liberalized immigration policy, cap-and-trade emissions control legislation and ending the military’s ban on openly gay soldiers.